Sir, – While the Government's capital investment plan is generally very welcome, it is ironic that the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is to receive money to invest in "rehabilitation of peatlands" when an article in your newspaper highlighted the calamitous damage done by peat extraction to a Bronze Age road in Westmeath ("Bronze Age road in Midlands turned into potting compost", October 1st).
Disregarding the need for a preservation order or listing in the register of historic monuments, the same department has permitted the destruction of a 3,000-year-old bog road in the course of the extraction of peat by a private company.
In an area with limited tourist attractions, the Mayne bog road could yet become part of an historic trail with nearby sites at Fore and Loughcrew, if only this wanton destruction were stopped. One would have to wonder why the Government is spending so much money on a decade of commemoration when it refuses to preserve a much older heritage. – Yours, etc,
LESLEY WHITESIDE,
Mullingar,
Co Westmeath.